Wheel Alignment and its Benefits to Your Auto

Is your vehicle drifting or pulling to one side of the road during your commute? Are your tires wearing unevenly? If these things are unfolding with your car, you may just be in need of a wheel alignment on your Bloomington based car. Call Hagen Automotive and we can get you scheduled for a wheel alignment.  

Having your wheels aligned ensures that your four wheels on are pointed properly to meet the specifications set forth by the auto manufacturer, optimizing your wheels for maximum tire contact with the road surface. When the alignment is off, countless issues can emerge.

How do you measure wheel alignment on my vehicle?
Each car has its own individual alignment requirements according to its suspension components. The weight, size, length, and anticipated usage of the model are all considered when the manufacturer establishes the appropriate alignment angle specs. If your vehicle is beyond the boundaries of the factory specifications, then your technician will make the necessary adjustments to the alignment angles. The amount of time necessary to complete a wheel alignment varies from vehicle to vehicle.

How frequently should I have my alignment done?
Most auto makers advise at least one alignment per year, others automotive professionals say once every six months or every 6000 miles. Another rule of thumb, a simple one, when you notice that your alignment is off, call Hagen’s to schedule a wheel alignment. Any individual vehicle’s need for an alignment varies due to several factors, like overall road quality where you drive. 

What happens if I do not have my vehicle’s wheels aligned?
When wheels are not aligned correctly, the tires will be scrubbing the road surface—causing unnecessary wear—an uneven dulling of the tires. Most manufacturers of tires will not even honor their warranties without proof that you had a wheel alignment done as they were installed. Wheels not in proper alignment make your car have to work significantly harder, burn off extra fuel and ultimately operate under lower gas mileage. Driving a car that veers is a safety hazard as well—on wet or icy roads. Simply put, your vehicle is being stressed in multiple areas the longer you drive it while the wheels are misaligned.

For more information on wheel alignment near Bloomington, call Hagen Automotive at 952-937-2774, or you can contact us and Request an Appointment.

Common Forms of Brake Repair

Sometimes, needing new brakes can be stressful. But a lot of the time, we see the same types of brake problems over and over, so our mechanics are well versed on how to repair them without a lot of hassle. Here are a few of the most common forms of brake repair we do for St Louis Park residents.

Brake pad replacement

Normally, we recommend that you get new brake pads every 20,000 miles, but sometimes they'll wear down sooner than this, especially if you drive a lot. We will check your brake pads during a routine oil change. There's an indicator that will stick out of the brake pad, and it will tell us when it's time to replace your brake pads.

Line replacement

This is usually an emergency brake repair, and this is needed when the line that carries the fluid from your master cylinder into and throughout the whole brake system gets punctured or damaged. This fluid is vital to the way your car's brake system works and continues to function, and it needs to be clean at all times. If there is even just a bit of dirt in it, it can possibly cause problems in other parts of the system. We can sometimes patch the line and not replace it, but it depends on how big the problem is.

“Bleeding” the brake line

When we bleed a brake line, we drain out all of the brake fluid to replace it with new fluid.  We usually do this when there are air bubbles or when the fluid gets dirty and contaminated. We do this after every brake repair job that we do in order to ensure that the lines have fluid in them and there are not any air pockets throughout those lines. We also check this when the lines and master cylinder are in good repair but you're still having trouble getting your car to stop, even after you've applied a lot of pressure to your brakes.

These are just a few of the most common forms of brake repair that our mechanics do. Of course, we can handle any problem you're having with your brakes, so call us the next time you're experiencing trouble stopping your vehicle.

Would you like more information on brake repair near St Louis Park? Call Hagen Automotive at 952-937-2774 or 952-937-2711, or you can contact us and Request an Appointment.

Signs You Need New Tires

With winter coming up, you should be sure the tires on your car are ready to go. Tires can make all the difference when driving in snowy or icy weather, so you want to be sure your tires are in good shape at all times. As an auto repair shop near St Louis Park, we have helped countless drivers like you stay safe on the road, so we thought we would share some ways to see if you should look into getting new tires.

You can try the Penny Test. Take a penny and slip it into the tire tread with Lincoln's head facing down. If you can't see his face, then your tires are fine. But if any part of his face is showing, you should call our auto repair shop to see about getting new tires.

Take a look at your tires too. If the sides are bulging out or if there is any noticeable wear, then it's time to bring it to Hagen for a tire check. We can professionally inspect your tires to see what sort of shape they are in, and we will recommend new ones if the tread on your current ones is low or if there are any other signs of wear and tear.

If you feel a vibrating sensation coming from your car as you're driving, that's another good indication you'll be calling us soon. There are a few things that can cause this, so we'll have to take a closer look to see what's going on. It could be anything from the suspension to your rear tires being out of balance or something along those lines.

While none of these at-home tests should ever take the place of getting your car looked at by professionals like us, they are good ways to see if new tires might be in your near future. When in doubt, call us and we will look at your tires to make sure you're safe to drive this winter and throughout the entire year.

Also keep in mind that your tire pressure will drop as it continues to get cold. Be sure to check your tire pressure on a regular basis and refill your tires as needed to keep them at the proper pounds per square inch.

Would you like more information on auto repair near St Louis Park? Call Hagen Automotive at 952-937-2774 or 952-937-2711, or you can contact us and Request an Appointment.

Do You Need New Brakes?

If you suspect you need new brakes, you might be wondering what the telltale signs are. There are a few things you can look out for as you are driving your car. And if you need new brakes or brake repair near Bloomington, you can give us a call at Hagen Automotive for help!

When you push on your brakes, are you feeling a pulsing sensation or movement? If this happens to you, bring your vehicle to us for brake repair. The pulsing is usually caused by worn out brake pads or brake pads that have been warped by extremely hot temperatures. 

If you are feeling a grinding sensation and/or hearing a grinding noise when you hit your brakes, this is another good sign that you need to get your brakes looked at and repaired. The grinding noise usually indicates that the brake pads need to be replaced. And if the problem is bad enough, you might even need new rotors. This type of brake repair can be expensive sometimes, so bring your car to us for help as soon as possible after you first start noticing the grinding problem.

As you are driving your car, if you notice that it is pulling to one side, this is another good indication that brake repair is going to be in your near future. This could indicate that your brake pads are wearing unevenly, although it could also be a sign that your wheel alignment needs adjusting. No matter what the culprit is, we can help so bring your vehicle to us so we can take a look at it.

Although this list of possible signs of brake repair is by no means every single sign that your brakes might need to be checked, these are a few of the most common ones we encounter. But if you suspect something is wrong with your car or truck, bring it to us and let us know what is going on. We can take care of brake repair and just about any other type of repair or replacement work you might need done.

For more information on brake repair in Bloomington or the surrounding areas, call Hagen Automotive at 952-937-2774 or 952-937-2711, or you can contact us and Request an Appointment.

Welcome to Hagen Automotive's Blogger!

Welcome to Hagen Automotive's new Blogger! We are a full service auto repair shop serving the Twin Cities and the surrounding areas. 

Check this blog for regular updates on our auto repair shop, what we're up to, industry news and more. And if you need to schedule an appointment for any of our auto repair services, call us at 952-937-2774 or 952-937-2711 or you can contact us to Request an Appointment.

All About Hagen Automotive

Since 2006, Hagen Automotive has been a trusted name in auto repair and maintenance services in Eden Prairie. We help car and truck owners throughout the entire area with all of their repair needs. From oil changes to muffler and exhaust systems, we are here to keep you and your vehicle on the road. Here is a brief overview of our automotive services and all that we can do to help you with all of your car care needs.

Oil Changes

This is probably one of the most well-known maintenance services. An oil change every 3,000 to 5,000 miles (depending on your car manufacturer’s recommendations) is imperative to keeping your car on the road and running smoothly. Oil is what keeps the many parts of your vehicle’s engine working efficiently, and it helps reduce the amount of carbon and varnish that can collect on your engine. Oil also keeps your car engine cool by pulling heat away from the combustion chamber. So making sure your oil is changed on a regular basis can really help prolong the life of your engine.

Brakes

It is pretty obvious what sort of function brakes serve. They are what make your car slow down and stop. That’s why making sure your brakes are in good working order is so important. There are a few signs that you should come to us to have your brakes inspected: constant squealing or grinding when you press on them, feeling vibrations or a clunking sensation when you hit your brakes, a low or spongy-feeling brake pedal or a brake warning light that stays on.

Exhaust Systems

When your car creates gases like carbon monoxide, these gases need to be released from your car through the muffler and tail pipe. This system is a critical part of keeping your vehicle on the road and running smoothly. Not only that, keeping your exhaust system in good shape also helps prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, which could make you sick while you are driving and cause an accident. Getting your car’s exhaust system looked at on a regular basis can save time, money and even lives.

These are just a few examples of the vehicle repair services we provide. Give us a call to find out more about our services!

Would you like more information on our auto repair and maintenance services in Eden Prairie and the surrounding areas? Call Hagen Automotive at 952-937-2774 or you can contact us and Request an Appointment.